Signal horn



J. C. M CUNE Oct. 4, 1932.

SIGNAL: HORN Filed May 8, 1951 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH C. MGC UNE ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTTOF'FICE' JOSEPH C. MCCUN E, OF EDGEWOOID, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERIDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA SIGNAL HORN Application filed ma 8, 1931. Serial No. 535,897.

This invention relates to pneumatic signal horns, and more particularly to a sound producing device adapted to be operated by a partial vacuum.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved vacuum controlled sound producer which is very simple in construction and can be cheaply manufactured and which does not require accurate and nice adjustment of parts to operate satisfactory.

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a sound producing device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a plan view of the disk valve assembly of the construction shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a side elevation of the disk valve assembly.

As shown in Fig. l, the construction may comprise acasing 1, having secured in a 2 hollow extended portion of the casing, the usual sounding horn 2. Screwed into the opposite end of the casing is a plug 3, and mounted in the casing is a disk valve assembly comprising a disk valve 4, adapted to seat against an annular seat 5 provided in the casing 1. Secured to the, disk valve 4is a spider 6 having the outer ends of its legs 7 bent inwardly to form guide faces adapted to be guided in a cylindrical portion 8 of the casing.

A disk-shaped weight 9 is centrally applied to one side of the disk 4 and the parts are secured together by means of a rivet 10 having an enlarged head 11 which serves as a guide'for a coil spring 12. The spring 12 is interposed between the disk assembly and the inner Wall of the plug 3.

A pipe 13 is connected to an opening in I the plug 3 and a choke plug 14 controls the rate of flow from chamber 15 to the pipe 13.

In operation, When it is desired to operate the signal horn, a partial vacuum is created in the pipe 13 by any suitable means, and thereby a partial vacuum is created in chamber 15. The atmospheric pressure acting on the opposite side of the disk 4 then acts to move the disk against the resistance of the spring 12, so that the disk moves from its seat 5. With the disk valve 4 unseated,

atmospheric air flows into chamber 15, at a greater rate than air can flow through the choke 14 to the pipe 13, with the result that the pressure builds up in chamber 15 until the spring 12 is able to return the disk valve 4 to itsseat. When the disk valve 4 is again 5; seated, the above operation is repeated and this results in a rapid vibration of the disk valve 4, so that a sound is produced.

The weight 9 serves to increase the momentum of the valve disk, so as to facilitate positive movement of the disk. The spider 6 acts as a guide for the disk valve and prevents wear of the peripheral edge of the valve.

It will be apparent that the above described construction is very simple and of few parts and thus can be cheaply manufac tured, and it has been found that the parts need not be accurately finished or fitted in order to secure satisfactory results.

While one illustrative embodiment of the invention hasbeen described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A sound producing device comprising a casing having a chamber, a sound generating disk mounted in said chamber and adapted to engage a seat provided in the casing, said disk being caused to vibrate by variations in fluid pressure in the chamber at one side of the. disk, a rigid guide member secured to said disk and engaging an annular guide surface in the casing, and a spring disposed axially of said disk for opposing the unseating of the disk. v a

2. A sound producing device comprising a casing having a chamber, a sound generat- 90 in g disk mounted in said chamber and adapted to engage a seat provided in the casing, said disk being caused to vibrate by Variations in fluid pressure in the chamber atone side of the disk,- a guide member secured to said disk for supporting said disk against radial movement and moveable axially of the disk on an annular guide surface in the casing anda spring disposed axially of saiddisk for opposing the unseating of the disk. In testimony whereof-I have hereunto set my hand, this 6th day of May,"1931'. V

JOSEPH C. MOCUNE. 

